“Before Luke Littler came onto the scene, Josh was the hottest property in world darts” – John O'Shea waxes lyrical about his protégé's unprecedented talent

The International Pairs has returned to Portsmouth, and that means one thing: the chase for the title is back on. From April 20 to 25, the Modus Live Lounge once again sets the stage for one of the most competitive pairs tournaments in the darts world. Defending champions Ireland are back — and with John O'Shea on board, the ambition is crystal clear. “Anything I’ve ever won, I want to defend,” O'Shea says without hesitation. “It makes no difference there. That won’t hold me back.”

The Irishman, nicknamed ‘The Joker’, again teams up with compatriot Conor Heneghan. The duo were crowned champions last year and return with confidence — but also with a refreshed approach.

While many players swear by hours of practice, O'Shea has tweaked his method. Experience has taught him that efficiency matters more than volume. “It’s not so much about how many hours I’m putting in. I focus more on quality over quantity,” he explains. “The older you get, the more important it is that your time on the board is meaningful rather than just throwing darts.”

His preparation for Portsmouth is therefore relatively compact but targeted. “I had a throw this morning for about an hour and ten minutes, and I might have another session this evening. That’s about where I’m at right now.”

Behind that seemingly relaxed approach, however, lies a key technical change. After his disappointment at Q-School, O'Shea decided to take a hard look at his game.

“Since Q School and losing my Tour Card, I’ve changed a lot—my grip and my release. I think I’m ready now to fully commit to that. This week is the big test, and there’s no better place to try it.”

The International Pairs is known for its unique dynamic. Where individual form often proves decisive in singles, it’s different in pairs. According to O'Shea, that is exactly what makes the tournament so unpredictable. “Pairs is very difficult,” he emphasises. “You saw that last year—even the top players in the world don’t always click together. In pairs, it has to happen on the day.”

He outlines the classic scenario: “Usually one scores and the other finishes, but if that balance isn’t there, it can go the other way.”

That makes predictions risky. Form, statistics, or ranking count for less than in other formats, he says. “I don’t look too much at form in pairs. When I put on that Irish shirt, I become a different beast altogether.”

This year’s edition promises to be particularly tough. Big names from various countries are heading to Portsmouth, including seasoned players and emerging talents.

According to O'Shea, the level has risen again: “The last two were already full of quality. Some players have gone on to win Tour Cards, and others have come back after losing them. There’s so much quality across all the countries.” He therefore refuses to name favourites. “Everyone will have their favourites and want their own country to win.”

Even at home, interest is high. His son Kenneth has a clear preference: “he's shouting for the Kenyan boys because he loves Peter Wachiuri,” O'Shea laughs. “I said, you know what, whatever, boy, because he just thinks he's brilliant.”

One of the most talked-about scenarios in pairs is the possibility of a combined nine-darter — a rarity in darts. O'Shea has even pondered it. “Funny you say that—I was only thinking about that yesterday while I was practising," he says. "Conor is known for nine-darters, and I hit one myself a few weeks ago in an ADC event.”

What would the celebration look like? He stays vague. “Honestly, I don’t know how I’d react. It would probably be chaos—maybe like a concert atmosphere. Now that I’ve lost a bit of weight, maybe the crowd would catch me if I jumped off the stage.”

Beyond his own ambitions, O'Shea also plays an important role in Josh Rock’s career. The two have been close for years and often travel to tournaments together. “I’ve known Josh since he was very young,” O'Shea says. “We got our Tour Cards together, and I’ve been around him from the very start. I try to guide him where I can—I’ve got 35 years in the game."

Their bond is tight — and humorous. “It could go from dad to grandad because of my age. But look, I treat him like one of my own sons. I give out to him,” O'Shea laughs.

Rock is having an up-and-down Premier League campaign, but O'Shea says that says little about his true level. “Does he belong there? Absolutely, 100%,” he states firmly. “I just think if he’d got an early win, things might look very different now.”

The Irishman sees daily how high Rock’s level is. “His grouping is unbelievable—he can put darts on a thread.” He shares an anecdote that says a lot: “I remember in Dartmouth, he got out of bed, picked up my darts, threw three straight into the board, and walked off like nothing happened. That’s just how good his natural ability is.”

He even claims the Northern Irishman was ‘the next big thing’ before Littler’s rise. “Before Luke Littler came onto the scene, Josh was the hottest property in world darts. He’s explosive—you never know when it’s coming.”

According to O'Shea, Rock is nowhere near his peak. “He can average 95 to 105 regularly, but I’ve seen even better from him—and that’s still to come. I keep saying it: you’ve seen nothing yet.”

Still, O'Shea acknowledges there have been moments when Rock let big chances slip. “A couple of majors have slipped away from him—the UK Open, for example, and maybe the Grand Slam match against James Wade.” But he remains optimistic: “That’s just part of the journey. He’s learning, and when it all clicks, he’ll be right up there.”